Quetta shuts down after bomb explosion

New Delhi, Dec 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) The death toll in the Quetta bomb explosion has increased to six as two injured succumbed to their injuries on Friday, Samaa TV reported.

The explosion on Thursday night targeted a Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Nazryati group conference. A complete shutter down strike was observed on Friday to protest the bombing, the report said.

At least four people were reportedly killed and 15 injured on Thursday night in the explosion on Quetta's Jinnah Road.

Shortly after the blast, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Syed Fida Hussain Shah, said the bomb explosion occurred at the gate of Government Science College on Jinnah Road when the participants of the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Nazryati group's 'Shuhada' conference were leaving.

An improvised explosive device (IED) containing around 1.5 kg of explosive material was planted next to an electric pole, which exploded at 9:40 pm (local time), he said.

He said the police personnel had been deployed to provide security for the event but the blast occurred when the guests were dispersing.

Balochistan Interior Minister Zia Langove said the bomb was triggered using a remote-control.

Footage from the scene showed a charred motorcycle and several damaged cars. People were seen running in the street.

Witnesses told the police that glass windows of buildings situated in the vicinity of the blast were shattered, as security forces and rescue officials reached the site of the explosion, Geo News reported.

At the same time, the provincial advisor to the chief minister, Raza Langoo, was directed to further improve the security situation in the city.

Langoo has said that the blast occurred through a remote-controlled device.

Source: IANS